AUSTIN, Texas and KOLN, Germany, June 8,
2011 /PRNewswire/ --
- New CE Marked xTAG(R) Gastrointestinal Pathogen Panel (GPP)
Used to Triage Patients at German Kliniken der Stadt Koln
Luminex Corporation (NASDAQ: LMNX) and the Kliniken der Stadt
Koln, Institute of Pathology and Institute for Hygiene today
announced that Luminex's newly released xTAG(R) Gastrointestinal
Pathogen Panel (GPP) is being used successfully as a first-line
screen for patients at Kliniken der Stadt Koln suspected of having
an E. coli infection. This includes the detection of
hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) causing Shiga-like toxin producing
E. coli strain responsible for the current outbreak.
(Logo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100104/LUMINEXLOGO)
Kliniken der Stadt Koln Institut fur Pathologie worked with
Luminex last week to quickly implement this new diagnostic assay
when they successfully showed xTAG GPP was able to accurately
detect the outbreak pathogens in patient samples.
As of 7 June at 15:00 CET World
Health Organization (WHO) reported 2,745 people in 12 European
countries have been sickened by E. coli. Since the beginning of
May, there have been 722 notified cases of HUS and 25 deaths -
nineteen fatalities resulting from HUS infections and six
fatalities from E. coli non-HUS infections. Staff at Kliniken der
Stadt Koln Institut fur Pathologie, who use the Luminex xTAG
Respiratory Viral Panel (RVP), have quickly adopted xTAG GPP as an
important first line screen to help manage the current outbreak in
Germany.
Since xTAG GPP can rapidly and simultaneously identify 95% of
acute gastroenteritis pathogens, infected patients can be quickly
identified and appropriately managed. Positive STEC patients can be
closely monitored and treated in parallel with confirmatory
testing. Additionally, patients who are infected with other
causative infectious agents; or those who are negative, can be
quickly identified and receive appropriate care or be discharged,
thus making healthcare resources available to those most in
need.
"Prior to the approval last month of xTAG GPP, we did not have a
test that would allow us to rapidly detect a comprehensive array of
disease-causing pathogens for infectious gastroenteritis," said PD
Dr. Frauke Mattner, of Kliniken der
Stadt, Institute of Pathology and Institute for Hygiene. "The
ability of xTAG GPP to detect not only several different types of
E. coli, but also the presence of the Stx-2 gene, a key marker of
this more severe STEC strain, is allowing rapid identification of
patients who may be suffering from an infection of this outbreak
strain. This innovative technology is an important advance and an
invaluable tool in the management of the current crisis."
"We are pleased and proud that our new innovative assay, xTAG
GPP, is helping health care professionals in Germany rapidly identify patients who may be
infected with this pathogen and is assisting them during this
crisis," said Patrick J. Balthrop,
president and CEO of Luminex. "All of my Luminex colleagues across
the globe share a serious concern for those affected and hope for a
resolution to the current situation as quickly as possible."
About xTAG Gastrointestinal Pathogen Panel (GPP)
Luminex's xTAG GPP can simultaneously detect fifteen of the most
common disease-causing gastrointestinal pathogens, including
viruses, bacteria and parasites, such as E. coli, Campylobacter,
Salmonella and C. difficile all within 5 hours. xTAG GPP received
CE mark approval in May of 2011 from European regulatory
authorities and is now being used as an important aid for patient
triage in the current outbreak.
More information on Luminex and xTAG GPP can be found at
http://www.luminexcorp.com/gpp , or Luminex's European office at,
Krombraak 15, 4906 CR Oosterhout, The
Netherlands, +31.16.240.8333.
About Kliniken der Stadt Koln, Institute of Pathology and
Institute for Hygiene
Kliniken der Stadt Koln gGmbH is a network of urban hospitals
that includes the hospitals in Cologne-Merheim and Cologne-Holweide
as well as the Amsterdamer StraBe pediatric hospital. With more
than 1,500 beds, the hospital group is the largest provider of
inpatient health services in Cologne. Approximately 4,000 staff members
treat, care for and handle about 60,000 patients per year on an
inpatient basis, and more than twice as many on an outpatient
basis. With annual revenues of roughly 280
million euros, the network is one of the large urban
hospitals in Germany. Kliniken der
Stadt Koln gGmbH is run by CEO Prof. Christian Schmidt, MD and MPH, and Roman
Lovenfosse-Gehrt. Research teaching is a top priority at Kliniken
der Stadt Koln gGmbH: the three urban hospitals are teaching
hospitals of the University of Cologne; the hospital at Cologne-Merheim is a
clinical center of the University of Witten/Herdecke.
http://www.kliniken-koeln.de/uberuns/Hygiene/
About Luminex Corporation
Luminex Corporation develops, manufactures and markets
proprietary biological testing technologies with applications
throughout the diagnostic and life sciences industries. The
company's xMAP multiplex solutions include an open-architecture,
multi-analyte technology platform that delivers fast, accurate and
cost-effective bioassay results to markets as diverse as
pharmaceutical drug discovery, clinical diagnostics and biomedical
research, including genomic and proteomic research markets. The
company's xMAP technology is sold worldwide and is already in use
in leading clinical laboratories as well as major pharmaceutical,
diagnostic and biotechnology companies. Further information on
Luminex Corporation or xMAP technology can be obtained at
http://www.luminexcorp.com/.
Contacts:
Investors:
Matt Scalo
Luminex Corporation
mscalo@luminexcorp.com
+1-512-336-3587
Media:
Mimi Torrington
Luminex Corporation
mtorrington@luminexcorp.com
+1-512-219-8020
Jana Stoudemire
Porter Novelli
porternovelli.com
+1-512-241-2245
Hugo Beeckmans
Porter Novelli - EU
+32(0)2-35-01-67
Hugo.beeckmans@porternovelli.be
PD Dr. Oliver
Kliniken der Stadt Koln
Ostmerheimer Strasse 200,
51109 Koln, Cologne, Germany
schildgeno@kliniken-koeln.de
PD Dr. Frauke Mattner
Kliniken der Stadt Koln
Ostmerheimer Strasse 200
51109 Koln, Cologne, Germany
mattnerf@kliniken-koeln.de